HB 18-1410

House Bill 18-1410, also known as Prison Population Management Measures, requires Colorado's Department of Corrections to monitor prison bed availability monthly. If the number of empty beds drops below 2% for a month or rises above 3%, the department must inform several key officials and entities, including the governor and district attorneys. When the vacancy rate falls below 2%, the bill allows the department to request reviews from the parole board for inmates close to release who have approved plans, potentially speeding up their release process. This bill is now signed into law, meaning its provisions are active and being implemented in Colorado's prison system.

Official Summary

The bill requires the department of corrections (department) to track the prison bed vacancy rate in both correctional facilities and state-funded private contract prison beds on a monthly basis. If the vacancy rate falls below 2% for 30 consecutive days, the department shall notify the governor, the joint budget committee, the parole board, each elected district attorney, the chief judge of each judicial district, the state public defender, and the office of community corrections in the department of public safety (office of community corrections). The department shall notify the governor, the joint budget committee, the parole board, each elected district attorney, the chief judge of each judicial district, the state public defender, and the office of community corrections once the vacancy rate exceeds 3% for 30 consecutive days. When the vacancy rate falls below 2% for 30 consecutive days, the department may: Request the office of community corrections to provide the department with information regarding the location and nature of any unutilized community corrections beds; Request the parole board review a list of inmates who are within 90 days of their mandatory release date, have an approved parole plan, and do not require full board review or victim notification. The parole board must hold a file review for the inmates on the list within 10 days after the receipt of the list. Coordinate with the parole board to review the list of inmates who have satisfied conditions for conditional release verified by the department of corrections, do not require full board review or victim notification, and have satisfied the condition or conditions required for parole. The parole board must hold a file review for the inmates on the list within 10 days of the receipt of the list.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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